Chapter 8 - The revelation shattered the remaining pieces of Ramon's reality.His mother was alive.
At least, that was what Emma had just said.
Ramon demanded answers.
Maria refused.
Mateo disappeared.
Evelyn disappeared.
Only Emma remained.
She had collapsed into Ramon's arms after speaking.
Three hours later, she woke.
“Where am I?”
Ramon sat beside her.
“Safe.”
She looked at him.
“Did I say something?”
Ramon hesitated.
“Yes.”
“What?”
“You said my mother is alive.”
Emma nodded.
“Then it's true.”
“How do you know?”
“Because she told me.”
Ramon stared.
“Where?”
“In the dream.”
Ramon frowned.
Emma touched her temple.
“She comes here.”
She closed her eyes.
Ramon sat silently.
Then Emma whispered:
“She says you're supposed to remember.”
“Remember what?”
“Your real name.”
Ramon froze.
His entire life, he'd been Ramon Ortega.
But now everything suggested that name was false.
He stood.
“What's my real name?”
Emma opened her eyes.
“Rafael Cruz.”
The room went silent.
Ramon sat down.
Rafael Cruz.
He had heard the name before.
The last heir of a criminal dynasty destroyed twenty-four years ago.
A boy supposedly murdered at age one.
He had always believed it was a story.
Now he wondered whether the story was about him.
He traveled to St. Matthew's Cathedral before dawn.
Beneath the cathedral they found a hidden passage.
At the end was an iron door.
Ramon inserted the silver key.
The door opened.
Inside was a room filled with photographs.
His mother.
His father.
Arturo.
Mateo.
Evelyn.
And him.
But there was one photograph that made Ramon stop.
His mother was holding a baby.
The baby had a distinctive birthmark.
Ramon had the same mark.
On the back:
RAFAEL CRUZ. FIRST HEIR.
Ramon stared.
Then a woman's voice spoke behind him.
“My son.”
He turned.
His mother stood in the doorway.
Older.
Pale.
Alive.
Ramon couldn't breathe.
“Mom?”
She approached slowly.
He raised his weapon.
She stopped.
“You don't remember me.”
“I remember your funeral.”
“My funeral was staged.”
“You let me believe you were dead.”
“I had to.”
“Why?”
She looked at Emma.
“Because they were hunting her.”
Ramon lowered his weapon.
“Who is Emma?”
His mother's expression changed.
“The last witness.”
“To what?”
“The night The Circle was created.”
Ramon stared.
She explained that his grandfather had created The Circle to protect families like theirs.
But power corrupted it.
The organization transformed from a shield into a machine.
Politicians were bought.
Judges controlled.
Police compromised.
Families eliminated.
And the Black Vault held proof.
“Then why don't we destroy it?”
His mother shook her head.
“Because the Vault isn't a room.”
Ramon frowned.
“It is a person.”
He looked at Emma.
His mother's eyes followed.
“No.”
She pointed toward Ramon.
“You.”
Ramon felt the floor disappear beneath him.
“The vault is inside your bloodline.”
“Explain.”
“Your grandfather encoded access using genetic markers.”
Ramon stared.
“That doesn't make sense.”
“That's why they need you alive.”
Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the tunnel.
Ramon drew his weapon.
His mother whispered:
“They're here.”
A voice came from the corridor.
Evelyn.
“Family reunion.”
Men entered.
Ramon fired.
The room exploded into chaos.
His mother grabbed Emma.
Ramon fought through three attackers.
Then the lights shut off.
A needle pierced his neck.
He collapsed.
The last thing he saw was Emma being dragged away.
Then darkness.
When Ramon woke, he was strapped to a chair.
A camera pointed at him.
Evelyn stood in front of it.
“Good morning, Rafael.”
Ramon stared at her.
“Where is my daughter?”
Evelyn smiled.
“She isn't your daughter.”
“Then why are you afraid of her?”
“Because she knows the truth.”
“What truth?”
Evelyn leaned closer.
“She remembers who killed your real father.”
Ramon stared.
“Who?”
May you like
Evelyn whispered:
“You did.”
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